Test and Evaluation of Natural Rubber Spherical Balloons.

• Main Author: Sharenow,Moses
• Other Authors: ARMY ELECTRONICS COMMAND FORT MONMOUTH N J
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1973
• Subjects: Aircraft; Meteorology; (*Meteorological balloons; Performance(Engineering)); Rubber; Altitude; Climbing; Periodic variations; Rupture; Atmospheric sounding; Evaluation; Arctic
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0769740; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0769740

NTERMEDIATE ALTITUDE (19-21 km), fast-rising, meteorological spherical natural balloons. A quantity of 85 balloons was procured to determine their possible suitability for use by artillery units as an economical sounding vehicle to be used in conjunction with Meteorological Balloon ML-566/UM (30 km fast-rise balloon) currently under development, and as a possible replacement for Meteorological Balloon ML-541/UM, the standard 75,000 feet (23 km) fast-rise balloon now in use. The balloons were flight-tested in temperate, tropical, and arctic regions during both daytime and nighttime conditions. It is concluded that these balloons would be a valuable adjunct to the Fast-Rise Balloon System, and would be substantially more economical for use by artillery in flights to 21 km. (Modified author abstract)